The Government of Thailand has announced plans that Phase 1 of the THB1 trillion Southern Land Bridge project is set to commence operations in six years by 2030. The project aims to link the Gulf of Thailand with the Andaman Sea. It involves the construction of ports, an inter-city motorway, and railway tracks. The first of three construction phases will start in 2026 and commence operations in late 2030, with the second phase beginning in 2031 and completing in late 2034, and the third phase starting in 2035 and concluding in late 2036.
The project includes a THB330.81 billion port in Ranong, facing the Andaman Sea, and a THB305.67 billion port in Chumphon, facing the Gulf of Thailand, with the inter-city motorway and railway tracks costing THB358.52 billion. Currently, the officials are adjusting project details based on feedback from potential investors and local communities, with the design and environmental impact assessment for the ports expected to be completed by the end of 2024. The design of railway tracks and the inter-city motorway will be finalised in 2025, and the government plans to select a contractor by Q3 2025, signing the contract in early 2026.